To become a better reader, read more.
To become a better writer, read more.
The first quarter in review:
ASSIGNMENTS:
9/11 - You will finish your 6-word story in class tomorrow and share it with your peers. Remember your goals: Use only 6 words to elicit an emotion in your audience and allow for more than one interpretation. (For sale: Baby shoes. Never worn.)
9/12 - Type and decorate your 6-word story. ROOM TOUR QUIZ is tomorrow.
9/16 - We are in the prewriting stage of our narrative assignment!
Complete the STORY MAP graphic organizer as the first step in prewriting activities for the narrative, which will use your 6-word mystery as the first sentence hooking readers in. If you worked with a partner, you will EACH write your OWN story; it will be interesting to see the differences after the opening sentence. The STORY MAP is due TOMORROW.
9/17 - If you were unable to finish in class, complete the "DIALOGUE DISCOVERY" assignment. You do not have to complete #4.
9/18 - Write down FOUR observations of my class website and any of the sites that I linked to this website. You will hand this in tomorrow. We will begin drafting narratives in class tomorrow!
9/19 - The first part of your narrative drafts looked great today! Continue writing outside of school because the FIRST typed and and printed DRAFT is due on TUESDAY, September 24th. We will revise and edit in a workshop style in class AFTER the 24th.
9/24 - Apply what you learned about "smiley-face" writing techniques (A.K.A. literary devices) by adding them to your narrative.
Bring your narrative draft to class tomorrow to complete our revising/editing workshop stations.
*Your FINAL draft is due on Tuesday, October 1st.
Click here for Wednesday's Revising and Editing Stations.
10/1 - Complete the "Practice" section of the QUOTE SANDWICH handout, requiring you to write nine different quote introduction examples.
10/3 - Vocabulary practice (roots, prefix, suffix) - COMMENCE, TENTATIVELY, OMINOUS, IMPROMPTU
10/7 - Corrections to reading log responses are due tomorrow.
10/8 - Use today’s grammar stations worksheets to guide you as you revise your narrative for a higher grade. Please review my revision policy before handing your work in on Thursday.
10/16 - Be sure that you are prepared to be an expert on your informational article's issue for tomorrow's news report and Friday's open response writing. Reread your article!
10/18 - Read each of these articles and write down three ways that expository writing will benefit you in the future.
Article 1 - Harvard Writing Program
Article 2 - George Mason University "Writing in Accounting"
Article 3 - Harvard Business Review: "Your Company is Only as Good as Your Writing"
Assignment due dates are now posted on Edmodo so students can make use of the calendar function.
- Concise writing: 6-word story
- Narrative writing following the writing process and using smiley-face tricks
- Realistic fiction reading - "The Treasure of Lemon Brown" and "The Moustache"
- Open response writing and quote sandwich practice
- Informational articles - Opposing Viewpoints: School Violence, Literacy, or America's Wealthy
- Newsroom nonfiction article report
- Narrative nonfiction reading - Scholastic SCOPE: "Lexi Youngberg: Invincible"
- Analysis of descriptive language in nonfiction - SCOPE "Surviving the Tsunami"
- Mood study: "The Monkey's Paw"
- Halloween performance: Reader's Theater: "The Monkey's Paw"
- Reading groups: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
ASSIGNMENTS:
9/11 - You will finish your 6-word story in class tomorrow and share it with your peers. Remember your goals: Use only 6 words to elicit an emotion in your audience and allow for more than one interpretation. (For sale: Baby shoes. Never worn.)
9/12 - Type and decorate your 6-word story. ROOM TOUR QUIZ is tomorrow.
9/16 - We are in the prewriting stage of our narrative assignment!
Complete the STORY MAP graphic organizer as the first step in prewriting activities for the narrative, which will use your 6-word mystery as the first sentence hooking readers in. If you worked with a partner, you will EACH write your OWN story; it will be interesting to see the differences after the opening sentence. The STORY MAP is due TOMORROW.
9/17 - If you were unable to finish in class, complete the "DIALOGUE DISCOVERY" assignment. You do not have to complete #4.
9/18 - Write down FOUR observations of my class website and any of the sites that I linked to this website. You will hand this in tomorrow. We will begin drafting narratives in class tomorrow!
9/19 - The first part of your narrative drafts looked great today! Continue writing outside of school because the FIRST typed and and printed DRAFT is due on TUESDAY, September 24th. We will revise and edit in a workshop style in class AFTER the 24th.
9/24 - Apply what you learned about "smiley-face" writing techniques (A.K.A. literary devices) by adding them to your narrative.
Bring your narrative draft to class tomorrow to complete our revising/editing workshop stations.
*Your FINAL draft is due on Tuesday, October 1st.
Click here for Wednesday's Revising and Editing Stations.
10/1 - Complete the "Practice" section of the QUOTE SANDWICH handout, requiring you to write nine different quote introduction examples.
10/3 - Vocabulary practice (roots, prefix, suffix) - COMMENCE, TENTATIVELY, OMINOUS, IMPROMPTU
10/7 - Corrections to reading log responses are due tomorrow.
10/8 - Use today’s grammar stations worksheets to guide you as you revise your narrative for a higher grade. Please review my revision policy before handing your work in on Thursday.
10/16 - Be sure that you are prepared to be an expert on your informational article's issue for tomorrow's news report and Friday's open response writing. Reread your article!
10/18 - Read each of these articles and write down three ways that expository writing will benefit you in the future.
Article 1 - Harvard Writing Program
Article 2 - George Mason University "Writing in Accounting"
Article 3 - Harvard Business Review: "Your Company is Only as Good as Your Writing"
Assignment due dates are now posted on Edmodo so students can make use of the calendar function.
Reading log bookmarks are due each Friday. The first reading logs of the year will be explained and distributed on Friday, September 13th. Key points:
- Reading logs are completed using independent reading books, which will be read both in and out of school.
- Each week's log question will focus on a new literary concept, so the log will be different from week to week.
- Each week's question must be answered using evidence from the text as support for the student response. The quote sandwich visual technique is a useful tool for students as they strengthen this important skill.
- New logs are kept in the classroom and are given to students each Friday.
- If a student's response exceeds the allotted space on the bookmark, a piece of lined paper may be stapled to the log.
- Full-page CHALLENGE logs requiring more in-depth text analysis can be found here.
Revising and Editing will be done in a workshop format in class after a long-term writing piece has been drafted. After completing this workshop, student work will be graded. If a student chooses to increase the grade earned, further revisions specific to his/her piece can be made so that the work can be submitted for a higher grade. The following guidelines apply:
- Every spelling/grammar mistake that is marked by Mrs. Bigda must be fixed.
- Every comment made by Mrs. Bigda must be addressed.
- You must hand in the original copy (with corrections), your new revised copy, and the rubric or scoring guide with your previous grade on it. If any of these three items are missing, you will not be eligible for a new grade.
- Your second (new) grade will be averaged with the first grade.